"Yes. I heard something about it before I left the island,—I overheard that Jerry Swinger and the mulatto boy speaking of it. But I own, Vernon, I was too hasty, to judge you unheard."
"Max, who is this De Guy?"
"De Guy," said Maxwell, with feigned astonishment; "don't know him."
"Bah, Max! don't you know that you cannot wool me? By the way, that was a clumsy trick of yours, sending this De Guy after the girl. When he had gone, the captain would have chased him, if I had not come and assured them that the terrible Maxwell could not possibly be concerned in the affair."
"Indeed! did you do me this essential service?" said Maxwell, forgetting that he had denied his connection with De Guy.
"I did. If you had left the matter with me, I could have done it better."
"Well, Vernon, I see you are all right yet; but the thing worked to a charm. De Guy is the cleverest fellow out. The girl is safe."
"So I suppose," said Vernon, with an assumption of indifference.
"But all the sport is yet to come."
"Indeed," said Vernon, burning with anxiety, but striving to maintain his accustomed easy and reckless air.